What is Heat Exchanger ?
Types & Working Principle
A heat exchanger is a device used to transfer heat between two or more fluids (liquids or gases) without them mixing.
Heat exchangers are widely used in heating, cooling, refrigeration, air conditioning, power plants, chemical processing, and automotive systems.
Working Principle of Heat Exchanger:
The basic principle is thermal conduction.
When a hot fluid flows adjacent to a cold fluid, heat transfers from the hot to the cold fluid through a solid barrier (like a tube wall or plate), without direct contact between the fluids.
Main Types of Heat Exchangers:
1. Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger
Structure:
Consists of a shell (large pressure vessel) and a bundle of tubes inside.
Application:
Power plants, oil refineries.
Working: One fluid flows inside the tubes, and the other flows outside the tubes but inside the shell.
2. Plate Heat Exchanger
Structure:
Made of multiple thin, slightly separated plates.
Application:
HVAC, food processing.
Working: Fluids flow in alternating spaces between plates, allowing efficient heat transfer.
3. Air-Cooled Heat Exchanger
Structure:
Tubes with fins and a fan to blow air.
Application:
Automotive radiators, air compressors.
Working:
Hot fluid passes through finned tubes, and air removes the heat.
4. Double Pipe Heat Exchanger
Structure:
One pipe inside another (coaxial).
Application:
Small industries, labs.
Working:
One fluid flows in the inner pipe, and the other flows in the annular space (between pipes) in opposite directions (counter-flow).
5. Spiral Heat Exchanger
Structure:
Two flat surfaces wound into a spiral.
Application:
Sludge processing, high-fouling fluids.
Working:
Fluids flow in spiral channels, offering compact size and easy cleaning.
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